Page 30 of What Haunts the Heart
He groaned, deep and throaty, but he didn’t argue. Thank god. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to resist him a second time, knowing how turned on he was, and I didn’t want to show up to Chester’s party smelling like sex. I hadsomedecency, thank you very much.
“Let’s go!” I chirped.
Prancing off into the kitchen to fetch the kitty-litter cake I’d made especially for tonight, we headed to the party. As we drove, I kept catching glimpses of Oakley out of the corner of my eye. He’d look my way every so often, a smile playing at his lips. Meeting his gaze unabashedly, I reached over and grabbed his hand with a grin of my own.
Mine.
The gravel drive that led up to the farmhouse was packed with cars, and people had already begun parking on the lawn. We sidled up next to Kinsley’s SUV and killed the engine. Kids in colorful costumes sprinted around the yard, laughing, while everyone else seemed to be occupying the barn. A few people were clustered around the fire pit, which was heaped tall with sticks and brush.
“Let’s go say hi,” I said, letting go of Oakley’s hand in favor of the cake. I wiggled in my seat. “I can’t wait to see what Chester and Kinsley decided on for costumes. Bet you ten bucks that they’ve got matching couples’ costumes.” I threw back my head on a laugh and led the way.
“The party has officially arrived,” I called out, dramatically entering the barn.
Chester glanced up from where he stood and I couldn’t help but giggle. He was dressed to the nines in a suit and tie, his dark hair slicked away from his face, which was a ghastly shade of white. His lips were smeared with fake blood and when he grinned, plastic vampire teeth shone through.
“What the hell, Chess? Youtotallystole my costume idea.” I set the cake down on the dessert table and poked him in the chest. The bashful expression he wore told me that beneath that gaudy face paint, he was beet red. I laughed again. “Let me guess—Kinsley’s a vamp too?”
“I’ve come to suck your blood,” drawled a voice behind me, and yep, there was Kinsley…or should I say Dracula? His suit was pinstriped and the tie he’d chosen was blood red with little black bats on it. He had their youngest daughter strapped to his chest, though, which really cut down on the fear factor, if you asked me.
He glanced between me and Chess, then grinned. “Wow. Guess vampsarepretty popular in Vale Valley tonight, huh? Where’s Oakley? Is he a vampire too?”
I scoffed. “Hardly. He’s my pet werewolf.”
Both of them cracked up. “Perfect. Please tell me you left his collar and leash at home.” Kinsley eyed me—namely my fishnet stockings and black nylon boots—with a knowing smirk. “This is a family-friendly event, you know.”
“Hey, sexy vampire nurses are family-friendly,” I argued. “It’s not like I’m naked.”
“Not yet,” Oakley joked, strolling up behind me. He looped his arms around my waist and kissed the side of my neck. “Hopefully before the night is through, though.”
Chester covered his face in both hands. “Definitely not family-friendly,” he squeaked.
I elbowed Oakley in the ribs. “Not here,” I promised Chester. “Oh! Come check it out. Look what I made.” I popped the plastic lid off the cake container and puffed out my chest with pride. “Lani’s gonna shit!”
I’d baked the devil’s food cake in a foil baking dish, so it closer resembled a cat litter pan. The “litter” topping was crushed cookies atop a thick layer of white frosting, and I’d shaped Tootsie-Rolls to look like cat turds. I’d even bought a brand new litter scoop to serve the cake with. It was genius.
Chester gasped.
I cackled softly. “What do you think? Pretty realistic, huh?”
“Fallon’s going to love it,” Kinsley said around a chuckle. “It fits right in with those earthworm cupcakes and…whateverthisis.” He gestured to a bowl of what looked like bloody eyeballs floating around in…was that Jell-o? I bent down and gave the bowl a sniff. Mmm. Cherry. My favorite.
“There’s so much food,” Oakley admitted. “Did everyone show up with a dish?”
Chester beamed. “Mostly, yeah! I didn’t expect it at all, but I’m so happy with the turnout. We even have a bunch of entries for the homemade pumpkin-cart race. The winner gets a giant blow-up pumpkin for their yard and a bucket of candy.”
“We bought so much candy,” Kinsley agreed.
“Yeah, andsomeone’salready put a huge dent in it.” Chester rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.
Kinsley huffed. “Hey, I had help. Fallon’s got a sweet tooth like his daddy.”
“Don’t blame the kids, Mr. Kingston.”
Oakley and I exchanged a look. “Where’s Claire?”
“She and Lani are out getting the bonfire started,” Chester said. “Why don’t you go say hi? They both look absolutely amazing, and I promise I won’t say a word about who made the kitty-litter cake.” He winked.
I grinned. “You’re the best, but let’s be honest—one look and she’ll knowexactlywho it’s from.” Slipping my hand into Oakley’s, I gave his arm a gentle tug towards the barn door. “Let’s go judge their costumes.”
